Isabella Stewart Gardner had the main stairwell from the Courtyard to the second and third floors painted Bardini Blue, the iconic color favored by the Florentine gallery owner Stefano Bardini. Against this vivid backdrop she positioned a number of architectural fragments, sculptures, and other decorative elements made of different materials, including wood, metal, and stone. The Portrait of a Lady in Black by Domenico Tintoretto greets visitors at the top of the stairs and, painted in Venice, sets the tone for the Venetian inspired rooms to come.
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